Published 4:00 am, Friday, July 23, 1999

Technology finally freaks out in the mechanical man at the heart of "Inspector Gadget." He could be the poster boy for Y2K.

The new live-action feature from Disney is in its own way just as much of a cartoon as "Tarzan." It's almost as much of a wonder, too.

It is one of two special-effects extravaganzas, along with "The Haunting," that open today.

The mechanical shenanigans begin with a delightful version of the Disney logo. The eponymous hero is a meek security guard with dreams of becoming a law-enforcement officer. When he is blown up and reassembled as the technological whiz Inspector Gadget, he gets his wish. He is not exactly a Man of Steel. More like his dorky cousin.

In this fable, there are echoes of other comic-book heroes -- his jive-talking automobile with its cool, bouncy moves is a parody of the Batmobile, and he has a magic command like Captain Marvel's "Shazam." Other figures from our collective childhood come to mind -- most prominently the Tin Man who finds his heart.

As with that character from "The Wizard of Oz," it is the human element that counts.

Interestingly, in the making of this film, it is the human element that counts, too. While it is a spectacle of animatronics, digital graphics and other special effects, the actors are never overwhelmed by them as personalities.

Matthew Broderick as Inspector Gadget displays a right-on repertoire of physical comedy with his comic- book body language. The usually silky-toned Rupert Everett does an interesting change of pace as the campy villain Claw ("one word, like Madonna").

The 90-minute film goes by in an eye-popping flash of quick scenes. They make their point and move on, which shouldn't be a surprise considering director David Kellogg's TV commercial expertise. Each visual punch line gets its laugh and then is immediately topped by another.

Security guard John Brown (Broderick) stumbles onto a plot by the villainous Sanford Scolez, who will become Claw, and is blasted to pieces. This Humpty Dumpty is put back together by Brenda the scientist (Joely Fisher) as a prototype cyber-police officer.

When the rebuilt John Brown dons the Gadget Suit -- a neat raincoat, nebbishy necktie and narrow- brimmed hat -- and says the magic words, he sprouts mechanical appurtenances. Springs pop out of the soles of his shoes, his fingers turn into appliances and his arms stretch. In a nice little touch, Inspector Gadget's head sounds like a rattle when he nods.

The film becomes of matter of dueling mad scientists. Scolez, who lost his hand when a bowling ball fell out of the sky (don't ask), creates Inspector Gadget's evil twin -- the teeth are the giveaway -- to wreak havoc instead of doing good.

Fisher, who will be playing Sally Bowles in the tour of the musical "Cabaret," also gets to show another face, as Brenda's evil twin.

Anyone who saw Broderick dance in the stage version of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" will not be surprised by his moves. Everett, who may have the most beautiful voice in movies today, here shows some of the almost whispered concentration he used as Oberon in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" but adds some unexpected squawks. He seems relieved to have a chance to camp it up.

Andy Dick plays Igor to Everett's Dr. Frankenstein. A nod to television's "Six Million Dollar Man" provides a neat joke for Dabney Coleman as the police chief. Cheri Oteri has a nice turn as the perky mayor who never misses a photo op, D.L. Hughley is the hipster voice of the Gadgetmobile and Michelle Trachtenberg is Penny, who along with her dog always figures everything out.

There is a dazzling high-speed race through the streets of Pittsburgh, where the film was shot. At times, "Inspector Gadget" goes by in such a whirlwind that the viewer's head will be spinning, too.

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